If you’re planning on earning the Emergency Preparedness merit badge, you’re in the right place! In this guide, I’ll be providing you with all of the information that you’ll need to be prepared for any disaster. Afterward, you’ll be able to answer each question on your merit badge worksheet and earn the Emergency Preparedness merit badge!
If you’re new to ScoutSmarts, you should first check out Part 1 for the answers to requirements 1-4. If you’ve just come over from Part 1, congratulations! You’ve already learned a ton of useful info, and you’re about to learn so much more. Give yourself a big pat on the back. 🙂
This section covers requirements 5-10: signaling for help, transporting injured people, NIMS and ICS, troop mobilization, emergency services, earning your First Aid merit badge, and exploring careers in emergency management. These are the skills that turn your emergency knowledge into real-world action.
If you have other Eagle-required merit badges to earn, I’d recommend checking out my Difficulty Ranking Guide to Every Eagle-required Badge. There, you’ll also find the links to my other merit badge guides, as well as a description and summary of each badge’s requirements. I’m certain this resource will be helpful to Scouts on their road to Eagle!
Let’s get back into it! Take the time to closely review and think through requirements 5-10 of the Emergency Preparedness merit badge:
Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge Answers: Requirements 5-10 (Part 2)
- Signaling for Help. Do the following:
- 5a. Show three ways of attracting and communicating with rescue aircraft or drones.
5b. Show ways to attract the attention of searchers on the ground if you are lost in the wilderness.
5c. Show ways to attract the attention of searchers on the water if you are stranded with a capsized or disabled motorboat or sailboat.
- 5a. Show three ways of attracting and communicating with rescue aircraft or drones.
- Moving an Injured Person. With another person, show two good ways to transport an injured person out of a remote area using improvised stretchers to conserve the energy of rescuers while ensuring the well-being and protection of the injured person.
- National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command System (ICS). Do the following:
- 7a. Describe the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the local Incident Command System (ICS).
7b. Find out how your community and its leaders work to manage and to train for disasters. Discuss this information with your counselor.
7c. Discuss how a Scout troop can help in an emergency situation using ICS.
- 7a. Describe the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the local Incident Command System (ICS).
- Emergency Service. Do the following:
- 8a. Discuss with your counselor the duties that a Scout troop should be prepared to do, the training they need, and the safety precautions they should take for the following emergency services: (1) Crowd and traffic control. (2) Messenger service during an incident. (3) Collection and distribution services. (4) Group feeding, shelter, and sanitation.
- 8b. Prepare a written plan for mobilizing your troop when needed to do emergency service. If your troop already has a mobilization plan, present the plan to your counselor and tell your part in making the plan work.
- 8c. Using a checklist in the Emergency Preparedness merit badge pamphlet or one approved by your counselor, prepare or inspect a personal emergency service pack for a mobilization call. Explain the needs and uses of the contents to your counselor.
- 8d. Take part in an emergency service project, either a real one or a practice exercise, with a Scouting troop or a community agency or at Scout camp or at a school. Review what you learned and practiced with your counselor.
- First Aid Merit Badge. Earn the First Aid merit badge.
- Careers. Do ONE of the following:
- 10a. Interview an emergency services coordinator or a civil servant about their work in disaster management. Learn about how they chose this career and about their duties. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and whether you might be interested in this career.
- 10b. Identify three career opportunities that would use skills and knowledge in emergency services. Pick one and research the training, education, certification requirements, experience, and expenses associated with entering the field. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and whether you might be interested in this career.
- 10c. Identify how you might use the skills and knowledge in the field of emergency preparedness to pursue a personal hobby and/or healthy lifestyle. Discuss what you learned with your counselor and share what short-term and long-term goals you might have if you pursued this.
Signaling for Help (Requirement 5)
The updated requirements expand signaling beyond just aircraft. You now need to know how to attract rescuers in three different environments: from the air, on the ground, and on the water. The core principle is the same in all three: make yourself as visible and as loud as possible.
5a) Show three ways of attracting and communicating with rescue aircraft or drones.
There are many different ways you can attract the attention of a passing aircraft when lost in the wilderness. Here are the main signaling methods you should know:
| Method | How It Works | Best Used When |
|---|---|---|
| Signal Fire | Build three fires in a triangle pattern (the international distress signal). Add green branches or damp leaves to create thick smoke visible from the air. | Daytime (smoke) or nighttime (flames). Works best in open areas. |
| Signal Mirror | Angle a mirror or any reflective surface to flash sunlight toward the aircraft. Sweep back and forth across the sky. | Clear, sunny days. Effective over extremely long distances. |
| Ground Signals | Create large letters or symbols (like “SOS” or “X”) using rocks, logs, or by stamping patterns in snow/sand. Make them at least 10 feet across. | Open terrain where symbols are visible from above. |
| Bright Clothing/Fabric | Spread brightly colored clothing, tarps, or emergency blankets on the ground in an open area. | When you have limited tools. Contrast with the surrounding landscape. |
| Whistle/Noise | Three short blasts is the universal distress signal. Use a whistle, horn, or any loud device. | When aircraft are flying low enough to hear. Also useful for ground rescuers. |
Scout Tip: With search drones becoming more common in rescue operations, your signaling strategy should include both visual and thermal methods. A signal fire works for both aircraft and drones because drones equipped with thermal cameras can detect heat sources even through tree canopy. Laying out a bright-colored tarp in an open clearing is still one of the most effective things you can do.
5b) Show ways to attract the attention of searchers on the ground if you are lost in the wilderness.
If you’re lost in the wilderness, the first rule is: stay put. Moving around makes it much harder for searchers to find you. Once you’ve decided to shelter in place, focus on making yourself as findable as possible.
For ground searchers, your best tools are sound and visual markers:
- Whistle blasts (three short blasts = distress) carry much farther than yelling and don’t tire you out. This is why every Scout should carry a whistle in their pack.
- Signal fires produce smoke that’s visible for miles and create a landmark for ground teams to navigate toward.
- Trail markers like stacked rocks (cairns), broken branches, or strips of bright fabric tied to trees can show searchers your direction of travel.
- Flashlight at night can be spotted from a great distance. Flash it in groups of three (the universal distress pattern).
If you’re working on your Hiking merit badge, many of these wilderness navigation and signaling skills will come in handy there too.
5c) Show ways to attract the attention of searchers on the water if you are stranded with a capsized or disabled motorboat or sailboat.
Water rescues present unique challenges because you’re often far from shore with limited visibility. If your boat is capsized or disabled, stay with the vessel if it’s still floating. A boat is much easier to spot than a person in the water.
| Method | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Visual distress signals (flares) | Handheld flares, aerial flares, and smoke signals are required equipment on many boats. Red flares mean distress. |
| Distress flag | An orange flag with a black square and circle is the internationally recognized visual distress signal for boaters. |
| Mirror/reflective surface | Flash sunlight toward passing boats or aircraft. Even a phone screen can work in a pinch. |
| EPIRB or PLB | Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) transmit your GPS coordinates to rescue services via satellite. |
| Waving arms/paddle | Stand or sit high on the vessel and wave a brightly colored object. Slow, deliberate arm waves signal distress. |
If you’re working on the Swimming merit badge or the Lifesaving merit badge, many of the water safety principles overlap with what you’re learning here.
The following video (5:20) will show you various ways to signal for rescue, regardless of what gear you have on hand:
Moving an Injured Person (Requirement 6)
6) With another person, show two good ways to transport an injured person out of a remote area using improvised stretchers to conserve the energy of rescuers while ensuring the well-being and protection of the injured person.
You should never attempt to move a person with suspected neck or spinal injuries unless they are in immediate, life-threatening danger (like a fire or rising water). However, in many cases it’ll be appropriate to transport an injured or unconscious person out of a remote area.
The updated requirement focuses specifically on improvised stretchers, which are the safest and most energy-efficient way to transport someone over distance. Every Scout should know how to build one from trail materials.
Here are two improvised stretcher methods you can demonstrate:
| Method | Materials Needed | How to Build It |
|---|---|---|
| Pole-and-Jacket Stretcher | Two sturdy poles (6-7 feet long) + 2-3 buttoned jackets or shirts | Zip/button the jackets closed, turn them inside out, and slide the poles through the sleeves. The jackets form the bed of the stretcher between the poles. |
| Pole-and-Blanket Stretcher | Two sturdy poles (6-7 feet long) + a blanket, tarp, or sleeping bag | Lay one pole down the center of the blanket. Fold one side over the pole. Lay the second pole on the folded blanket about 2 feet from the first. Fold the remaining blanket over the second pole. The victim’s weight locks the folds in place. |
Scout Tip: When carrying a stretcher, the person at the foot end leads the way and calls out obstacles. The person at the head end walks backward and watches the victim. Switch positions when you become tired to conserve energy. When setting the stretcher down, the victim’s feet go down first. Practice this at a troop meeting with a volunteer “victim” so the technique becomes second nature.
Beyond stretchers, you should also be familiar with single-rescuer carry methods for shorter distances. Here’s a quick reference:
| Carry Method | Rescuers | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Piggyback Carry | 1 person | Conscious victim who can hold on. Good for moderate distances. |
| Fireman Carry | 1 person | Unconscious victim. Allows one rescuer to carry and have a free hand. |
| Double Human Crutch | 2 people | Conscious victim who can walk with assistance on both sides. |
| Packstrap Carry | 1 person | Unconscious victim. Distributes weight across the rescuer’s back. |
Watch the following video (2:29) for eight methods of transporting an injured person:
And here’s a great video (1:35) specifically on building an improvised stretcher:
NIMS and ICS (Requirement 7)
7a) Describe the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and the local Incident Command System (ICS).
Understanding NIMS and ICS is essential for knowing how emergency responders coordinate during disasters. Here’s how they compare:
| NIMS | ICS | |
|---|---|---|
| What is it? | An organization tasked with improving the USA’s national response to emergencies | A system that efficiently manages emergency personnel during disasters |
| Main Purpose | Develop a coordinated system between different organizations to handle large-scale disasters | Create a consistent chain of command that includes government and non-governmental organizations |
| How It Works | Trains all emergency response personnel in standardized methods | Puts a system in place where many different types of personnel can quickly begin work under the same command |
| Key Benefit | Thousands of workers from agency officials to medical personnel take NIMS training each year | Healthcare employees, firefighters, and others who don’t normally work together can coordinate effectively |
The Scouting methodology of prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery was first advocated by NIMS as a repeatable way to manage threats. Thousands of workers involved in emergency management, from agency officials to law-enforcement officers and medical personnel, take the NIMS training program each year to improve their incident response skills.
NIMS trains all emergency response personnel in using the ICS method. By using the standardized and coordinated framework that the ICS provides, different agencies can work together to manage disasters effectively.
7b) Find out how your community and its leaders work to manage and to train for disasters. Discuss this information with your counselor.
With your parents’ permission, go online to learn about your local emergency management structure. To find your community’s emergency management website, Google “emergency management” followed by the name of your city or county. For example, “emergency management San Diego.”
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) operates sub-agencies in all 50 states. You can view FEMA’s official website to locate the FEMA agencies and offices within your own state.
When discussing with your counselor, focus on: who leads emergency management in your area, what kinds of drills or training exercises they conduct, how they communicate with residents during emergencies (alert systems, sirens, apps), and how they coordinate with neighboring jurisdictions during large-scale events.
The role of an emergency management director is to prepare plans and processes to contain disasters. These individuals lead response efforts during and after emergencies, using the ICS method to coordinate elected officials, medical teams, government agencies, and safety personnel. They must have a thorough understanding of the preparedness principles: prevent, protect, mitigate, respond, and recover.
7c) Discuss how a Scout troop can help in an emergency situation using ICS.
In 2003, FEMA established a partnership with Scouts BSA to operate under NIMS and ICS protocol in the case of an emergency. Following Hurricane Katrina in 2006, Scouts living in the Gulf Coast region worked with local agencies to distribute resources and provide hurricane relief efforts.
By coordinating with law enforcement and emergency response personnel through ICS, Scout troops can mobilize during disasters to help their communities. During an emergency, troops can contact their local emergency management agency to ask where they can provide the most assistance. Scouts are especially valuable in roles like messenger service, resource distribution, and shelter support because these tasks benefit from the teamwork, discipline, and outdoor skills that Scouts already have.
Think of it this way: the ICS provides the structure, and your Scout training provides the skills. When those two things come together, your troop can make a real difference in your community’s disaster response.
Emergency Service (Requirement 8)
8a) Discuss with your counselor the duties that a Scout troop should be prepared to do, the training they need, and the safety precautions they should take for the following emergency services:
Here’s a quick overview of all four emergency service areas:
| Service Area | What Scouts Should Do | Training Needed | Safety Precautions |
|---|---|---|---|
| (1) Crowd and Traffic Control | Direct vehicles in parking areas, keep traffic moving slowly, prevent accidents | Hand signals (palm out = stop, open palm gesture = go), communication skills, situational awareness | Wear fluorescent vest or bright clothing, use buddy system, stay alert at all times |
| (2) Messenger Service During an Incident | Pass along messages when phone lines are down, deliver information between key locations | Map reading, route planning, clear communication skills | Use buddy system, move carefully, identify routes to and from key locations beforehand |
| (3) Collection and Distribution | Work with local officials to distribute food, water, and clothing to people in need | Organization skills, following specific directions for resource distribution | Travel with an adult, maintain reliable contact with your troop, stay in assigned area |
| (4) Group Feeding, Shelter, and Sanitation | Help run shelters that temporarily house and feed displaced people | Food preparation, sanitation procedures, understanding of disease prevention | Keep shelter well-sanitized, properly dispose of food/human waste, follow all given instructions |
In my 6+ years of Scouting, I’ve only ever helped with traffic control once, and have never done crowd control. You probably won’t do much of this either. From what I’ve heard, your responsibilities will heavily depend on the situation. Pay very close attention when listening to the instructions given beforehand.
Generally, when helping control traffic, you’ll be directing cars that are parking in a crowded area. A front-facing palm out is the universal sign for ‘stop.’ To tell a vehicle to ‘go,’ gesture to where they should go with an open palm while nodding. In both crowd and traffic control, your main concern should be keeping yourself safe. Wear a fluorescent vest or brightly colored clothing, and be on alert at all times.
For messenger service, find a map of the area you’re working in and identify routes to and from key locations so you can move quickly. For collection/distribution, you’ll follow specific directions from local officials about where and how to hand out resources. For group feeding and shelter, keeping the space well-sanitized and free of waste is critical since people in close proximity tend to quickly spread disease.
Scout Connection: If you’re also working on your Cooking merit badge, the food safety and group meal prep skills you learn there translate directly to group feeding in a shelter. Knowing how to safely prepare food for a large group is a genuinely useful skill during a disaster.
8b) Prepare a written plan for mobilizing your troop when needed to do emergency service. If your troop already has a mobilization plan, present the plan to your counselor and tell your part in making the plan work.
A troop mobilization plan is basically an organized way to account for all Scouts should a widespread disaster occur. Once a Scout troop mobilizes, their next goal is to work together with local authorities and aid their community.
Without a system, it’d be impossible to keep track of an entire troop. To contact every member, typically a ‘phone tree’ system is used. The Scoutmaster calls the SPL and informs them of the emergency. From there, the SPL calls patrol leaders. Then, patrol leaders call each of their patrol members to make sure everyone is safe and accounted for.
Your troop most likely already has an emergency mobilization plan that you could ask to look over. However, if you’d like to see an awesome example plan right now, check out Troop 370’s mobilization plan.
If you’re in a leadership position like Senior Patrol Leader or Patrol Leader, you’ll play a key role in executing this plan. Leading your patrol through a mobilization drill is great practice and shows your Scoutmaster you’re ready for more responsibility.
8c) Using a checklist in the Emergency Preparedness merit badge pamphlet or one approved by your counselor, prepare or inspect a personal emergency service pack for a mobilization call. Explain the needs and uses of the contents to your counselor.
In requirement 2c you built a family disaster kit. A personal emergency service pack (often called a “go bag” or “bug out bag”) serves the same purpose, but it’s lightweight, portable, and intended for one person only. This is the pack you’d grab if your troop gets a mobilization call and you need to report for emergency service.
Many of the items you’ll pack will overlap with the supplies you take to Scout camps. Do you know the 21 Scout camping gear essentials?
Here’s what to include in your personal emergency pack:
| Item | Why You Need It |
|---|---|
| Water bottle + purification tablets | Clean drinking water is the top survival priority. Tablets purify water from natural sources. |
| Non-perishable food (energy bars, jerky) | Lightweight, calorie-dense food to sustain energy for 24-72 hours. |
| First aid kit | Treat minor injuries and stabilize serious ones until help arrives. |
| Flashlight + extra batteries | Essential for navigation and signaling in darkness or low visibility. |
| Multi-tool or knife | Useful for cutting, opening, repairing, and dozens of other survival tasks. |
| Emergency blanket (space blanket) | Retains body heat, provides shelter, and can be used as a signal reflector. |
| Rain poncho or tarp | Protection from rain and wind. Can also serve as a ground cover or improvised shelter. |
| Whistle | Signal for help over long distances without using energy. Three blasts = distress. |
| Fire-starting supplies | Waterproof matches or a lighter for warmth, cooking, water purification, and signaling. |
| Rope or paracord (25+ feet) | Building shelter, making a stretcher, securing gear, and dozens of other uses. |
For help preparing your own emergency service pack, check out this video (8:59):
8d) Take part in an emergency service project, either a real one or a practice exercise, with a Scouting troop or a community agency or at Scout camp or at a school. Review what you learned and practiced with your counselor.
Most troops have a few emergency drills each year. If you have one coming up, I’d recommend you volunteer to assist in leading it by using the knowledge you’ve gained from this badge! There’s no better way to learn than by teaching. Plus, leading events is one of the best ways to build your leadership skills for future positions in your troop.
The updated requirement also allows you to do a practice exercise at a Scout camp or school, which gives you more flexibility. If your troop doesn’t have any emergency service projects planned, with your parent’s permission, you can also Google “emergency service project (your city)” to find a local government event to take part in.
Scout Tip: After completing your project, write down what went well and what you’d do differently next time. Your counselor will want to hear a thoughtful review, not just “it went fine.” The more specific you can be about what you learned, the stronger your discussion will be.
First Aid Merit Badge (Requirement 9)
9) Earn the First Aid merit badge.
In the updated requirements, earning the First Aid merit badge has been moved to requirement 9 (it used to be requirement 1). First aid is one of the most important skills to have when responding to an emergency, and it’s an Eagle-required badge on its own.
To handle many of the disasters you’ve learned about in this badge, you should be familiar with CPR, wound care, splinting, and triage. In earning your First Aid merit badge, you’ll learn these skills and more, enabling you to respond to a wide variety of medical emergencies. Many Scouts find it helpful to work on First Aid and Emergency Preparedness at the same time since there’s so much overlap between the two badges.
Careers (Requirement 10)
10) Careers. Do ONE of the following:
10a) Interview an emergency services coordinator or a civil servant about their work in disaster management.
This is a great option if you want a hands-on, personal approach to this requirement. Contact your local emergency management office, fire department, or Red Cross chapter and ask to interview someone about their career. Most professionals are happy to talk to Scouts about their work!
Some good questions to ask: How did you get into this career? What does a typical day look like? What’s the most challenging part of your job? What training or education did you need? What advice would you give to a Scout who’s interested in emergency management?
10b) Identify three career opportunities that would use skills and knowledge in emergency services. Pick one and research the training, education, certification requirements, experience, and expenses associated with entering the field.
Here are some career paths in emergency services to get you started:
| Career | What They Do | Education Needed |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency Management Director | Plans and coordinates disaster response for cities, counties, or states. Leads teams during crises using ICS. | Bachelor’s degree in emergency management, public administration, or related field. FEMA certifications. |
| Firefighter/Paramedic | Responds to fires, medical emergencies, and hazardous material incidents. Provides on-scene medical care. | Fire academy training, EMT/Paramedic certification. Some departments require an associate’s degree. |
| Search and Rescue Specialist | Locates and recovers people in wilderness, disaster, or urban collapse situations. Uses specialized equipment and techniques. | Varies. Many start as volunteers. Certifications in wilderness first aid, technical rescue, and incident command. |
For salary data and detailed job outlooks, check the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook.
10c) Identify how you might use the skills and knowledge in the field of emergency preparedness to pursue a personal hobby and/or healthy lifestyle.
This option is perfect if you’re interested in outdoor activities where emergency preparedness skills are a natural fit. Hobbies like backpacking, rock climbing, whitewater kayaking, amateur radio (ham radio), and volunteering with organizations like the Red Cross or Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) all use the skills you’ve been learning in this badge.
For your discussion, research one hobby that interests you and cover: what additional training you’d need, the costs involved (gear, memberships, certifications), any organizations you’d want to join, and your short-term and long-term goals. If you’re already involved in Scouting high adventure programs like Philmont or Summit Bechtel Reserve, those are great examples to build on.
Congrats on Earning the Emergency Preparedness Merit Badge!
Great work making it this far! Emergency preparedness may be a difficult skill to learn, but if you ever need to respond to a disaster, you’ll be glad you’ve earned this worthwhile badge. By preparing ahead of time, creating response plans, and learning useful first-aid skills, you’ll be able to handle any emergency that life throws at you.
If you missed any requirements from Part 1, click here to go back to Part 1 (Requirements 1-4).
Thanks for improving our planet through your involvement in Scouting! If you’ve found this guide helpful, I’ve also written other merit badge walkthroughs that you can check out at my difficulty rankings page. PS: If you’re on the path to Eagle and deciding between Emergency Preparedness and Lifesaving, check out my full comparison of the two badges. 🙂